Editor's note: Tony Grossi covers the Cleveland Browns for ESPN 850 WKNR.

How did a simple hyperbolic comment by John Dorsey mushroom into a national story that the Browns were interested in interviewing Condoleezza Rice as head coach, embarrassing the distinguished former Secretary of State, the city of Cleveland, the Browns organization, and its tormented, suffering fans alike?

Here is how it happened, in my opinion:

At his press conference on Wednesday, Dorsey repeatedly used the male pronoun in discussing the Browns’ coaching vacancy. Dorsey outlined his personal criteria thusly: “I would like to see a man of character. I would like to see a man who can lead young men. I would like to see a man who has high football acumen. Those are the three basic things there that I would look for.”

Dorsey proceeded to field questions at a rapid-fire pace. He was effectively fulfilling his mission of the day, which was to keep everyone guessing for clues about Dorsey’s prospective candidates.

Then came a question about whether age would be a significant factor in the next coach.

“I just want the best possible head coach to move this thing forward regardless of age,” Dorsey answered. “It could be a woman, too.”

The answer was funny to me because Dorsey was obviously using hyperbole to make his point that he would not limit his search to “young” or “offensive-minded” or “NFL” or “college.” He very well could have said it could be “a man from Mars.”

But he chose to say what he said, and I was the one who reacted with laughter clearly audible from the media audience. I mean, regardless of the politically correct times in which we live, there is no woman with experience in coaching professional football, much less one who would be qualified to include in such a discussion of entrusting the future of this long-lost bedrock NFL franchise at its latest crucial crossroad.

Essentially, if Dorsey and the Haslams screw up this coaching selection, another generation may die before seeing the Browns competing for the playoffs again. Dorsey, in fact, admitted as much.

Now, after my laughter, Dorsey looked at Cleveland.com Browns beat writer Mary Kay Cabot sitting directly in front of me and said, “Do not look at me like that. I am serious. Who knows? We will look at everything is what I am trying to tell you all.”

I suspect that Dorsey instantly feared a PC backlash for using a woman candidate in a hyperbolic context. He comes from a generation when doing so would not be deemed controversial or inappropriate. But these are different times. So Dorsey quickly tried to head off a controversy by insisting he was serious.

From that point on, the Browns had to make a choice: Should Dorsey clarify that he was being hyperbolic and that he regrets the comment? Or do the Browns continue the ruse of “seriously” considering a woman candidate – one that does not exist?

They should have nipped it in the bud immediately after the press conference, but they didn’t.

Instead, Dorsey made the media rounds and, if anything, furthered the point that he was being serious.

And that got credible media members into believing him – and a monster was created.

And it bit the Browns hard on a Sunday when a credible national reporter reported the Browns would like to interview Rice for their head coach position.

Whereupon national ridicule descended on the Browns.

Rice is one of the most famous women in the United States. She also is noted for not only being a fan of professional football – she once said she’d consider being NFL commissioner -- but also of the Browns, stemming from her father’s admiration of the Browns during the Jim Brown years.

Those are not qualifications to be an NFL head coach, of course, and to present Rice as a legitimate Browns coaching candidate jumped the shark on the idea of Dorsey conducting an inclusive search.

Within minutes, the Browns released a statement attributed to Dorsey lauding Rice’s leadership, character and career achievements, concluding, “Secretary Rice has not been discussed.”

Within minutes of that, Rice acknowledged the absurdity of the story by releasing a long statement on her Facebook account.

“I love my Browns – and I know they will hire an experienced coach to take us to the next level,” Rice wrote.

She expressed the serious hope that the NFL would “develop a pool of experienced women coaches” because “experience counts.”

Rice added with an appropriate sense of levity: “BTW – I’m not ready to coach but I would like to call a play or two next season if the Browns need ideas! And at no time will I call for a ‘prevent defense.’”

By the end of the day, it appeared that Rice might be more qualified to conduct the Browns coaching search than the “men” in charge.

Even on their bye week, the Browns can’t get out of their own way.